Blackberry plant named ‘Columbia Star’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct blackberry cultivar that originated from seed produced from a cross between the female blackberry plant ‘NZ 9629-1’ (unpatented) and the male parent blackberry plant ‘ORUS 1350-2’ (unpatented). This new blackberry cultivar can be distinguished by its high yields of large, very uniformly shaped berries with very good flavor, sweetness, and fruit chemistry as characterized by soluble solids, pH, and titratable acidity that make them well suited for processing. The new and distinct blackberry variety has fruit that are borne on vigorous, completely thornless plants and can be harvested by machine.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: ‘COLUMBIA STAR’ is a blackberry plant that is Rubus subg. Rubus Watson.

Variety denomination:

The new blackberry plant claimed is of the variety denominated ‘Columbia Star’ Rubus subg. Rubus Watson.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct blackberry cultivar designated ‘Columbia Star’ and botanically known as Rubus subg. Rubus Watson. This new blackberry cultivar was discovered in Corvallis, Oreg. in July 2008 and originated from a cross between the female blackberry plant ‘NZ 9629-1’ (unpatented) and the male parent blackberry plant ‘ORUS 1350-2’ (unpatented). ‘Columbia Star's spinelessness is derived from ‘Lincoln Logan’ (unpatented) that can be found as a parent four and five generations back in ‘Columbia Star's pedigree. The original seedling of the new cultivar was asexually propagated at a nursery in Benton County, Oreg. The new cultivar was established in vitro from a cane cutting and microcuttings have been taken and rooted from this sort of culture. The present invention has been found to be stable and reproduce true to type through successive asexual propagations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new blackberry plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs that show the fruit of the plant and machine harvested fruit, as well as canes and entire plants; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1. shows a section of a spineless primocane and a leaf.

FIG. 2. shows a fruiting lateral with typical leaves.

FIG. 3. shows typical fruit in a fruit cluster in the field.

FIG. 4. shows machine harvested fruit.

FIG. 5. shows an entire 5-year old plant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following description of ‘Columbia Star’ is based on observations taken from 2009 to 2012 growing seasons in trials in Corvallis and Aurora, Oreg. This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Color designations, color descriptions and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values and descriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions. ‘Columbia Star’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Color terminology follows The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart. London (R.H.S.) (5^(th) edition, 2007).

Table 1 shows plant characteristics of the new cultivar compared with plant characteristics of the blackberry plants ‘Marion’, (unpatented) and ‘Black Diamond’, (unpatented). Characteristics include plant vigor, presence of spines further than 0.6 m from the soil surface, presence of spines less than 0.6 m from the soil surface, weight of primary fruit, uniformity of berry shape, fruit firmness, fruit flavor, fruit soluble solids (%; in Brix), fruit pH, fruit titratable acidity (% as citric acid), and yield (actual kg•plt-1).

TABLE 1 Characteristic Columbia Star Marion Black Diamond Plant vigor High High Medium Presence of spines further Absent Numerous Absent than 0.6 m from the soil surface Presence of spines less than Absent Numerous Numerous 0.6 m from the soil surface Weight of primary fruit 7.96 g 3.76 g 6.92 g Uniformity of berry shape Excellent Fair Excellent Fruit firmness Very good Poor Good Fruit flavor Excellent Excellent Good Fruit soluble solids (%; in 12.80 12.28 10.47 Brix) Fruit pH 3.20 3.27 3.40 Fruit titratable acidity (% as 15.76 14.75 12.02 citric acid) Yield (actual kg · plt-1) 6.98 5.83 4.75

Table 2 shows plant characteristics of the new cultivar compared with plant characteristics of the blackberry plants ‘Marion’, (unpatented) and ‘Black Diamond’, (unpatented). Characteristics include plant vigor, growth habit, date of budbreak, timing of primocane emergence, primocane length on 14 Jun. 2012, and winter tolerance in Lynden, Wash. (48° 56′ 48″ N/122° 27′ 2″ W).

TABLE 2 Characteristic Columbia Star Marion Black Diamond Plant vigor High High Medium Growth habit Trailing Trailing Trailing Date of budbreak 27 Mar. 2012 27 Mar. 2012 27 Mar. 2012 Timing of primocane Early to medium Medium Medium to late emergence Winter tolerance in Good-very good Fair-good very good Lynden, Washington (48° 56′ 48″ N/ 122° 27′ 2″ W)

Table 3 shows floricane and mature primocane characteristics of the new cultivar compared with floricane and mature primocane characteristics of the blackberry plants ‘Marion’, (unpatented) and ‘Black Diamond’, (unpatented). Characteristics include diameter at base, diameter at midpoint, diameter at terminus, internode length at base, internode length at midpoint, internode length at terminus, presence of spines further than 0.6 m from the soil surface, presence of spines less than 0.6 m from the soil surface, floricane color at base, floricane color at midpoint, floricane color at terminus, floricane lateral length, floricane lateral strength, primocane color at base, primocane color at midpoint, primocane color at terminus, and floricane length (range).

TABLE 3 Columbia Characteristic Star Marion Black Diamond Diameter at base 0.84 cm 1.13 cm 1.44 cm Diameter at midpoint 0.56 cm 0.85 cm 0.80 cm Diameter at terminus 0.31 cm 0.27 cm 0.55 cm Internode length at base 6.03 cm 6.37 cm 5.04 cm Internode length at 5.22 cm 5.63 cm 5.77 cm midpoint Internode length at 3.81 cm 5.99 cm 4.90 cm terminus Presence of spines Absent Numerous Absent further than 0.6 m from the soil surface Presence of spines less Absent Numerous Numerous than 0.6 m from the soil surface Floricane color at base 144A 146B 152A Floricane color at 146C 146B 152A midpoint Floricane color at 144B 152C 152B terminus Floricane lateral length Medium- Long Short long Floricane lateral strength Medium Weak to medium Strong Primocane color at base 144A 138B-146D w/red 144A w/red (166A) streaking (187A) streaking Primocane color at 144A 143C-145A w/ red 146C w/red midpoint (166A) streaking (187A) streaking Primocane color at 144B 146D 144A, often terminus streaked w/red (187A) Floricane length (range) 2.8-3.7 m 4.9-5.8 m 2.7-4.3 m

Table 4 shows primocane foliage characteristics of the new cultivar compared with primocane foliage characteristics of the blackberry plants ‘Marion’, (unpatented) and ‘Black Diamond’, (unpatented). Primocane characteristics include mature compound leaf width, mature compound leaf length, number of leaflets per primocane compound leaf, mature leaflet shape, mature leaflet apex, mature leaflet base, mature terminal leaflet width, mature terminal leaflet length, mature first lateral leaflet width, mature first lateral leaflet length, leaflet margin, leaflet serration teeth length, leaflet serration teeth width at base, spine presence on leaves, pubescence on primocane leaflet: upper surface, pubescence on primocane leaflet: undersurface, primocane leaf color abaxial, primocane leaf color adaxial, petiole length, petiole color: upper surface, petiole color: undersurface, petiolule length: terminal leaflet, petiolule length: first distal leaflet, petiolule color: abaxial, petiolule color: adaxial, stipule length, and stipule width.

TABLE 4 Columbia Characteristic Star Marion Black Diamond Mature compound leaf 22.07 cm 17.21 cm 19.75 cm width Mature compound leaf 22.42 cm 15.52 cm 18.83 cm length Number of leaflets per Usually 5 Usually 3; Usually 5; ranges primocane compound sometimes 5 from 3-7 leaf Mature leaflet shape Ovate Ovate Ovate to Cordate Mature leaflet apex Acute Broadly Broadly acuminate/acute acuminate Mature leaflet base Cordate Rounded Round to cordate Mature terminal leaflet 8.70 cm 8.22 cm 7.43 cm width Mature terminal leaflet 11.68 cm 10.07 cm 8.83 cm length Mature first lateral 4.92 cm 5.97 cm 7.72 cm leaflet width Mature first lateral 7.30 cm 8.37 cm 10.07 cm leaflet length Leaflet margin Double Serrate Serrate serrate Leaflet serration teeth 0.42 cm 0.18 cm 0.24 cm length Leaflet serration teeth 1.07 cm 0.34 cm 0.40 cm width at base Spine presence on Absent Long prickles on Very short, soft leaves sides and back of spines on sides petiole, petio- and back of lules, midveins; petiole, petio- smaller prickles lules, midveins on lateral veins and larger lateral veins Pubescence on Light Medium to Sparse primocane leaflet: coarse upper surface Pubescence on Light Heavy, soft Heavy, soft primocane leaflet: undersurface Primocane leaf color N137A N137 N137 abaxial Primocane leaf color 137B 147B 147B adaxial Petiole length 8.18 cm 5.42 cm 7.90 cm Petiole color: upper 144A 146B-C 146A & 146B, surface maturing to 177A Petiole color: 144B 144B 144B undersurface streaked with red 184A Petiolule length: 2.83 cm 2.12 cm 4.43 cm terminal leaflet Petiolule length: first 0.28 cm 0.28 cm 0.68 cm distal leaflet Petiolule color: abaxial 200B 146B-146C 146A & 146B Petiolule color: adaxial 144B 144B 144B Stipule length 2.20 cm 1.39 cm 0.90 cm Stipule width 0.20 cm 0.31 cm 0.23 cm

Table 5 shows floricane foliage characteristics of the new cultivar compared with floricane foliage characteristics of the blackberry plants ‘Marion’, (unpatented) and ‘Black Diamond’, (unpatented). Floricane characteristics include mature compound leaf width, mature compound leaf length, number of leaflets per floricane compound leaf, mature leaflet shape, mature leaflet apex, mature leaflet base, mature terminal leaflet width, mature terminal leaflet length, mature first lateral leaflet width, mature first lateral leaflet length, leaflet margin, leaflet serration teeth length, leaflet serration teeth width at base, pubescence on floricane leaflet: upper surface, pubescence on floricane leaflet: undersurface, floricane leaf color abaxial, floricane leaf color adaxial, petiole length, petiolule length: terminal leaflet, petiolule length: first distal leaflet, petiolule color: abaxial, petiolule color: adaxial, stipule length, and stipule width.

TABLE 5 Characteristic Columbia Star Marion Black Diamond Mature compound 16.70 cm 13.52 cm 11.57 cm leaf width Mature compound 16.07 cm 12.32 cm 11.68 cm leaf length Number of leaflets per Usually 3 Usually 3; Usually 3; floricane compound occasionally 1 occasionally leaf 1 or 5 Mature leaflet shape Ovate Oval to ovate Oval to ovate Mature leaflet apex Acute Acute to broadly Acute acuminate Mature leaflet base Rounded acute to rounded rounded to cordate Mature terminal 7.27 cm 6.55 cm 6.18 cm leaflet width Mature terminal 11.47 cm 8.00 cm 8.28 cm leaflet length Mature first lateral 6.18 cm 5.30 cm 4.77 cm leaflet width Mature first lateral 9.07 cm 7.67 cm 6.57 cm leaflet length Leaflet margin Double serrate Serrate Serrate Leaflet serration teeth 0.29 cm 0.29 cm 0.27 cm length Leaflet serration teeth 0.48 cm 0.81 cm 0.64 cm width at base Pubescence on Light Light None floricane leaflet: upper surface Pubescence on Light Heavy Medium floricane leaflet: undersurface Floricane leaf color N137A 146A 147A abaxial Floricane leaf color 137C 148B 147B adaxial Petiole length 7.07 cm 4.67 cm 4.43 cm Petiolule length: 2.28 cm 1.32 cm 1.90 cm terminal leaflet Petiolule length: first 0.30 cm 0.33 cm 0.23 cm distal leaflet Petiolule color: 145A 146C 146C abaxial Petiolule color: 185A & 145A 144C 144B adaxial Stipule length 1.36 cm 0.964 cm 0.25 cm Stipule width 0.12 cm 0.19 cm 0.04 cm

Table 6 shows flower and flowering characteristics of the new cultivar compared with flower and flowering characteristics of the blackberry plants ‘Marion’, (unpatented) and ‘Black Diamond’, (unpatented). Flower and flowering characteristics include date 1st bloom, date full bloom, date last bloom, petal color, number of flowers per cluster, number of petals per flower, flower diameter, petal length, petal width, and number of sepals per flower.

TABLE 6 Characteristic Columbia Star Marion Black Diamond Date 1^(st) bloom 7-May 21-May 14-May Date full bloom 15-May 28-May 21-May Date last bloom 17 June 17 June 14 June Petal color 155C NN155D NN155C Number flowers per cluster 3.50 8.00 9.17 Number of petals per flower 5.17 5.17 5.33 Flower diameter 3.23 cm 6.14 cm 2.51 cm Petal length 1.65 cm 1.93 cm 1.32 cm Petal width 0.96 cm 1.21 cm 1.00 cm Number of sepals per flower 5.83 5.50 5.83

Table 7 shows fruit and fruiting characteristics of the new cultivar compared with fruit and fruiting characteristics of the blackberry plants ‘Marion’, (unpatented) and ‘Black Diamond’, (unpatented). Fruit and fruiting characteristics include date 5% of fruit were ripe, date 50% of fruit were ripe, date 95% of fruit were ripe, weight of primary fruit, weight of secondary fruit, weight of tertiary fruit, diameter of primary fruit at equator, diameter of 2° fruit at equator, diameter of 3° fruit at equator, diameter of 1° fruit at poles: tip, diameter of 1° fruit at poles: base, diameter of 2° fruit at poles: tip, diameter of 2° fruit at poles: base, diameter of 3° fruit at poles: tip, diameter of 3° fruit at poles: base, berry length primary fruit, berry length 2° fruit, berry length 3° fruit, ratio of primary fruit length to width, shape description, uniformity of berry shape, color when full ripe, number of drupelets per fruit, drupelet weight, individual seed weight, glossiness, firmness, flavor, texture of fruit when chewed, drupelet skin resistance to abrasion, ease of separation of fruit from pedicel, machine harvestability, resistance to heat damage of fruit, berries per inflorescence—mean, berries per inflorescence range, soluble solids (%; in Brix), pH, titratable acidity (% as citric acid), and yield (actual kg•plt-1). Fruit is borne only on floricanes.

TABLE 7 Black Characteristic Columbia Star Marion Diamond Date 5% of fruit were ripe 7 July 14 July 7 July Date 50% of fruit were ripe 18 July 21 July 25 July Date 95% of fruit were ripe 1 August 1 August 4 August Weight of primary fruit 7.96 g 3.76 g 6.92 g Weight of secondary fruit 9.68 g 4.21 g 6.49 g Weight of tertiary fruit 8.02 g 6.79 g 6.44 g Diameter of primary fruit 1.94 cm 1.71 cm 1.98 cm at equator Diameter of 2° fruit at 1.98 cm 1.80 cm 1.96 cm equator Diameter of 3° fruit at 1.88 cm 1.91 cm 1.90 cm equator Diameter of 1° fruit at 1.28 cm 1.05 cm 1.24 cm poles: tip Diameter of 1° fruit at 1.68 cm 1.63 cm 1.82 cm poles: base Diameter of 2° fruit at 1.25 cm 1.04 cm 1.12 cm poles: tip Diameter of 2° fruit at 1.82 cm 1.60 cm 1.70 cm poles: base Diameter of 3° fruit at 3.85 cm 1.14 cm 1.25 cm poles: tip Diameter of 3° fruit at 1.73 cm 1.79 cm 1.76 cm poles: base Berry length primary fruit 3.83 cm 2.65 cm 3.19 cm Berry length 2° fruit 3.84 cm 2.56 cm 2.91 cm Berry length 3° fruit 3.62 cm 3.39 cm 2.88 cm Ratio of primary fruit 1.98 1.55 1.62 length to width Shape description Conic Rough conic Conic Uniformity of berry shape Excellent Fair Excellent Color when full ripe 203B 203C 203B Number of drupelets per 147.67 59.00 75.83 fruit Drupelet weight 5.10 mg 9.30 mg 7.90 mg Individual seed weight 3.95 mg 3.95 mg 3.95 mg Glossiness Medium Medium Medium glossy to dull glossy to dull glossy to dull Firmness Very good Poor Good Flavor Excellent Excellent Good Texture of fruit when Very good to Excellent Very good chewed excellent Drupelet skin resistance to Good Poor Good abrasion Ease of separation of fruit Easy Easy Easy from pedicel Machine harvestability Excellent Excellent Excellent Resistance to heat damage Medium to Low Medium to of fruit good good Berries per inflorescence - 7.00 7.20 11.50 mean Berries per inflorescence 5-10 7-8 9-14 range Soluble solids (%; in Brix) 12.80 12.28 10.47 pH 3.20 3.27 3.40 Titratable acidity 15.76 14.75 12.02 (% as citric acid) Yield (actual kg · plt-1) 6.98 5.83 4.75

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘Columbia Star’ differs from the female parent ‘NZ 9629-1’ (unpatented) in that ‘Columbia Star’ has medium-sized, glossy, large fruit (7-8 g), while ‘NZ 9629-1’ has slightly pubescent fruit that are smaller (4.5 g). Furthermore, while ‘Columbia Star’ has yields greater than ‘Marion’ (unpatented) ‘NZ 9629-1’ (unpatented) has yields comparable to ‘Marion’

‘Columbia Star’ differs from the male parent blackberry plant ‘ORUS 1350-2’ (unpatented) in that it is ‘Columbia Star’ is spineless, has large (7-8 g), conic berries with excellent flavor, while ‘ORUS 1350-1’ (unpatented) is spiny, and has very large (10-12 g), barrel shaped berries with poor flavor.

‘Columbia’ Star differs from the commercial variety ‘Marion’ (unpatented) in that ‘Columbia Star’ is spineless and bears high yields of large, firm fruit, while ‘Marion’ is spiny, bears medium yields of medium sized, soft fruit. ‘Columbia Star’ differs from the commercial variety ‘Black Diamond’ (unpatented) in that ‘Columbia Star’ carries the ‘Lincoln Logan’ (unpatented) source of spinelessness and therefore the canes are completely spineless and the plants are vigorous with fruit that have excellent, aromatic flavor, while ‘Black Diamond’ (unpatented) carries the ‘Austin Thornless’ (unpatented) source of spinelessness and so has spines on the base of the canes and the plants are not vigorous and they produce fruit with a mild flavor. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of blackberry plant, substantially as illustrated and described, characterized by its high yields of large, very uniformly shaped berries with very good flavor, sweetness, as characterized by soluble solids, pH, and titratable acidity that make them well suited for processing and that are borne on vigorous, completely thornless plants that can be harvested by machine. 